The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-01-13
MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.
Synopsis OF the Proceedings Of the Senate and
House.

Synopsis Of the Proceedings Of the Senate and
House.
SENATE.-The opening proceedings Of the
session were Of the quietest character.
Gov. Gilman was not present, having been
called home by the illness OF his little son.
Lieut. Gov. Rice called Senator Day to act
as temporary secretary, and he proceeded
at once to call the roll The senators de-
posted their credentials as their names
were called and took the oath OF office.
All the senators responded to their
names except Gibson and Sampson the
latter being too i'll to come to St. Paul.
The senate than proceeded to the election
OF officers. The Democrats voted for the
caucus candidates, which were nominated
in the m orning, as follows:
Secretary, c. w. H. Heldeman OF New
York; assistant secretary, Henry Willard
Of Red Wing; enrolling clerk, Walter {.
Lambert, Sank Centre engrossing clerk,
w. Anderson, St. Paul. assistant sergeant
at arms, c. l.. Lock, Minneapolis.
The following officers were elected by q
strict party vote:
Secretary, Oscar L. Cutter assistant
secretary. Burt w. Day: engrossing clerk,
A. II. Bertram; enrolling clerk. Alva II.
Dewey; sergeant at arms, +. IL. Dayton;
assistant sergeant at arms, Peter O'Dessey.
Senator Wood offered a resolution that
William Close OF Rice county be elected as
sistant enrolling clerk to act as postmaster
MIR. Close was elected by the usual vote.
The president was authorized to APP
point the following officers, which
he named on petitions sent up by
the senator's: 0. L. Strand, assist
ant sergeantat-arms and keeper OF the
cloak room; Herman Lagard keeper OF
the committee rooms. There were half a
dozen candidates for the privilege of pray
ing for the senate at So day, but Rev. j..
Allison of Jordan, Scott county, was elect
ed chaplain. Fred C. Huntley Of Minneap-
oils and William Amundson OF St. Peter
were appointed pages.
The governor was notified that the Sem
ate was organized and he responded that
he would deliver his messase on Thursday.
HousE.-Promptly at IL H., the new Sec
rotary OF the state Hans Mattson, en-.
tered the chamber, and marching up to
the speakers chair, pounded away with
his gavel, and after a slight delay called
the twenty fifth session of the house to
| order. He at once chose William E. Lee
Of Todd county as temporary secretary.
Justice Dickinson of the Supreme Court.
| then swore in the members. Roll call was
| then proceeded with, showing ninety nine
raised to 1O1, only Representatives r. NJ.
| Anderson and Brown being absent.
| The election OF speaker came next. Rep.
resentative Bnffum nominated w. r. Mer-
nam OF Ramsey county, and Representa-
tive Lucas, for the Democrats, nominated
E. T. Champlin of Blue Earth. Represen-
tative Rogers seconded Mr.. Merriam s
nomination. The vote was II for Mer.
Ram, against 80 for Champlin.
1 e. 80 ohnsv lie
only few words.
The house then for an hour balloted and
chose the following officers:
For chief clerk, John R. Howard; first
assistant clerk, F. L. Warner; second as
sistant clerk, C. r. Carpenter engrossing
clerk, ]. Morrison; enrolling clerk, G. r
| Fuller; assistant enrolling clerk s. O.
Morse Unanimously elected); sergeant-at
arms, w. F. Gray; assistant sergeant-at
arms, F. G. Potter; chaplain, Rev. w. H
Harrington.
The following candidates, who were nom
mated by the Democrats at their caucus,
received the party vote:
Chief clerk j. I. Trip; first assistant, j
J. O'Brien; second assistant, G. c. Locke
engrossing clerk, L. A. Normandin; enroll
| ing clerk, J. G. Sheehy; sergeant at arms
j. Boland; assistant, H. Fellgate; chap
lain; S. G. Smith.
Nothing more OF Importance was trans
acted.
SENArE-Senator Goodrich introduced
the first bill! of the session-senate En-
No. l, comprising sections l, 2, 3, and
chapter 16, relative to the sale OF liquors
Senator Goodrich's bill provides that the
minimum licenses in any county
town or village OF less than 10,
900 inhabitants sh ould be $500
and in cities and owns of 10, 900 and over
the minimum shall be 81, 200. The bill
| does not fix the maximum license, but
leaves the option with the local authori
ties. It simply makes prohibition pos
sible by giving the local authorize:
power to make licenses SO higl
that de alers cannot afford to pay it
Senator Goodrich offered a resolution
that five members OF the senate be ap
pointed to whom all bills relating to tn
sale or the restraining OF the sale OF intoxi
eating liquors be referred. The vote OF
this was almost unanimous in the mega
tive. Senator Edwards moved to refer tn
bill to the proper committee when ap
pointed, but as his motion was not sec
onded the president announced that i
would lie upon the table for the present.
Senator Goodrich introduced bill t
am end the law relating to the destruction
of criminal property. The bill simply in
creases the penalties now provided. TIL
third bill introduced was also by Senate
Goodrich. The bill provides as pun
ishment for carnally kno wing and abusin
any female child under thirteen years c
age imprisonment for life, and for the sam
offence against any female between twelv
and twenty years Imprisonment OF no
less than one nor not more than twent
years. The present law provides life in
prisonment for an offence against femal
child under ten years OF age.
HousE.-The Joint convention Of bot
branches in the House heard the messages
and the house reconyened when ponnell
got the floor with the remark:
We have Just listened to two excellen
state papers. I desire now to introduG
two or three bills which in spirit are
harmony with these messages.
The bills were passed to the speaker, VIII
announced them, and they were read an
disposed of as follows:
A bill to regulate the rate interest at
per 500 per annum, unless Otherwis
provided for in writing, and that no CO
poration, etc., shall charge more than
per 500 per annum as interest; suppress
ing usury and pro tecting purchasers I
> usurious commercial paper; forbiddir
compounded interest etc. Referred to con
mittee on banking.
Amending article of the constitutio
by the addition OF a section 35 to it, rela
ing to the freedom OF markets. 1t is mac
. . criminal conspiracy for any corporation
stc., to interfere with or restrain tt
markets, or to secure a monopoly OF {
decrease the value OF products, and to
punished the same as the crime OF robber
. This amendment to be voted on at the ne,
J general election. Referred to judiciary cor
mittee.
A bill to tax railroad companies. Rrant
lines to be taxed on gross earnings, ar
not to open their lines for operation wit
| - 10 81 -